Il Duca: Sandblasted Morta Tomato (B) Tobacco Pipe

Max Rimensi of Il Duca pipes has built a portfolio on his use of morta, and his deft handling of the unique material has resulted in an impressive array of renditions. Among his favored shapes is the Tomato, but each one is quite different and projects its own personalty, as does this vertically compressed example. Low and wide, it exhibits an oval shank that is very wide at the transition and tapers both vertically and horizontally as it reaches to the cumberland mouthpiece, which continually tapers to the understated lip button. Subtle ridgelines extend the length of the shank, one on each side, and the lines are softly curved, harmonizing with the organic curvature of the bowl, into which those ridgelines evaporate in effortless synthesis. The tightly geometric grain of the morta is slightly angled to follow the shape, with the broadly domed rim revealing a softly spiraling effect, drifting smoothly into the bowl and shank with the precise crosshatching disposition that morta is so admired for when sandblasted. A moderately sized pipe, this piece is presented in an all-dark palette, the subdued burgundies melding with the black patterning of the vulcanite for traditional appeal, and the piece sits stably on a flat surface for additional convenience.